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Jordan beats rule by delaying return

June 11, 2001

There was a lot of rumbling at the Chicago predraft camp last week about referees still ignoring Michael Jordan fouls. It was a common complaint when Jordan played, and last week team executives were moaning about published reports that Jordan was working out against draft-eligible players.

NBA rules state teams cannot work out free agents with draft-eligible players. That would mean Jordan couldn't participate in workouts since he is a free agent. But since he hasn't officially said he'd return--although friends say he will and wants to bring a bunch of free-agent veterans such as Hakeem Olajuwon, Tim Hardaway and Patrick Ewing--he can work out players.

Jordan did tell the Washington Post he hopes to build around shooting guards Richard Hamilton and Courtney Alexander.

"That's Doug's [Collins] decision," Jordan said about using Hamilton and Alexander, as well as Hubert Davis. "He has to find a way to involve everybody. Hubert played point a little bit last year and all those guys can give us some [shooting-guard and small-forward] play. Can you get them to collectively focus on playing those spots?"

The Wizards also are not expected to re-sign free agent Christian Laettner and are expected to buy out the remaining two years on Mitch Richmond's contract. Richmond said he would like to sign with a contender like Miami or the Lakers.

The speculation is if Jordan wants to play, it means he'll trade the No.1 pick so he can get veterans to play with Washington. The last team to trade the No. 1 pick in the draft for a veteran was Philadelphia in 1986, when it had Moses Malone, Charles Barkley, Julius Erving and Maurice Cheeks. It traded for Roy Hinson and the Cleveland Cavaliers picked Brad Daugherty.